Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan called on Parliament to foster negotiations, emphasizing the need to resolve issues that have lingered since May 9.
Barrister Gohar addressed the National Assembly today and asserted, “We must address our grievances through dialogue in this assembly.”
“We advocate for progress through negotiations. The formation of a committee for talks demonstrates our commitment and should not be viewed as a sign of weakness,” he maintained.
He cautioned, “If we are denied a negotiated resolution, we will be compelled to protest again. Do not force our hand to return to the streets.”
He proposed, “We should convene a parliamentary committee meeting to resolve the May 9 issues once and for all.”
Barrister Gohar compared recent global protests, like those in Brazil, where demonstrators entered legislative buildings peacefully, questioning, “Were bullets fired there?”
“In contrast, our peaceful protest was met with gunfire,” he pointed out.
He criticized the government’s denial of gunfire, especially challenging a statement by the Defence Minister that claimed PTI’s Ali Amin Gandapur’s guards fired the shots. “It’s preposterous for the government to deny that shots were fired.”
He also reflected on past government actions that led to the deaths of eight people during attempts to implement Sharia law. “The government apologized after charging people, but could it not have consoled the families of the martyrs?” he questioned.
Addressing allegations of exploiting the “Pashtun card,” he clarified, “Our protesters were unarmed. We are not playing ethnic politics.”
He dismissed the notion that PTI uses protests for political gain, citing the undeniable popularity of PTI founder Imran Khan, showcased by events like the February 8 rally. “Imran Khan does not need rallies to affirm his popularity,” he affirmed.
The government and opposition clashed sharply in yesterday’s heated National Assembly session. Opposition Leader Omar Ayub accused Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of ordering security to fire on PTI protesters on November 26.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif immediately rebutted, criticizing PTI for inconsistent statements about the number of casualties in Islamabad’s Blue Area.
This session was the first since the November 26 standoff between PTI protesters and security forces.
The dispute over casualty figures persists, with PTI alleging fatalities ranging from 12 to over 250. The government continues to challenge these claims, requesting concrete proof.
The session featured fervent debates, focusing on the November 26 clashes and their aftermath. PTI and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members delivered impassioned speeches.
